A patch of the midnight sky on the starboard side suddenly lit up with ephemeral green and blue lights. Although the lights were fleeting, the glow of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) was unmistakable.

For the next 30 minutes the Aurora would splash the sky with brilliant colors appearing out of nowhere and vanishing just as abruptly. The sleepy Aggies on Alaska Airlines Flight #7101, a red-eye from Seattle to Fairbanks, were suddenly wide awake.

That was the first sighting of the Aurora by the Texas A&M High-Altitude Balloon Club (HABC) members. The Alaska natives on the flight were only too happy to share their Aurora stories with the Aggies. As the flight came into land at the Fairbanks airport at about 2 a.m., the colors of the Aurora faded into the background as the bright city lights illuminated the sky.

Unfortunately, that was the best Aurora sighting during the teams’ four-day trip to Fairbanks.

Project Aurora was an activity organized by the club, in conjunction Houston-based Project Aether Group. The Texas A&M team consisted of nine undergraduates (Rahul Venkatraman, aerospace engineering; Kimberley Webster, aerospace engineering; Megan Woodring, aerospace engineering; Christopher Cantu, aerospace engineering; Nicholas Ortiz, aerospace engineering; Lisa Malone, aerospace engineering; Celica Perez, biology; Dylan McGarry, mechanical engineering; and Travis Dawsey, manufacturing), two graduate students (Frans Ebersohn, aerospace engineering; and John Guthery, aerospace engineering).

The project was coordinated and supervised by dr. Sharath Girimaji, professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. Girimaji and the undergraduate team traveled to Fairbanks April 5 and returned April 10. The graduate students spent two weeks, from March 31 to April 14, with the Project Aether team.

As a part of the project, students launched helium-filled weather balloons capable of reaching 100,000 ft (20 miles) altitude into the Arctic sky to observe the northern lights and make various measurements. Each flight carried a payload of about four pounds and was tracked using Spot-GPS. The ascent time to 100K ft is about two hours. As the best Aurora viewing was at 3 a.m., most of the launches were between midnight and 1 a.m.

Five successful launches were completed and four balloons were recovered. One balloon was lost due to tracking malfunction. The project consisted of six missions:

• Standard Atmosphere: to measure and create tables and graphs of temperature, pressure and density versus altitude;
• Sky Loiter: to increase the balloon loitering time at a certain altitudes inside to measurements;
• Sounds of the Aurora: to record and document aurora acoustics and underlying physics;
• Life in the Aurora: to examine mutations in bacteria at the edge of space in the aurora;
• Stardust capture: to capture particles propagating in the aurora using an aerogel similar to that used by NASA; and
• Colors of the Aurora: spectroscopy analysis to see what elements are prevalent in the Aurora.

The Texas A&M High Altitude Balloon Club is one part of the recently started Buoyant Flight Laboratory in the aerospace engineering department. The purpose of this laboratory is twofold: First, and foremost, the objective is to provide undergraduate students experiential learning opportunities with one of the most benign forms of flight, buoyant flight. The second purpose is to use the balloons as in-air laboratory to perform various experiments. Thus balloons can serve as platforms for research and development of flight control strategies, remote sensing and atmospheric measurements.

Lagoudas’ appointment as interim deputy director of TEES will be effective July 1, and he will assume the position of deputy director upon approval of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

“Dr. Lagoudas is internationally known for his work on shape memory alloys and has provided significant leadership for many major research initiatives funded by NASA, NSF and AFOSR,” says Banks. “In addition to outstanding contributions to research, Dr. Lagoudas has demonstrated effective leadership of the aerospace engineering department and will be integral to enhancing and advancing our organization into the future.”

Lagoudas will be replacing Dr. Dennis L. O’Neal, who has accepted the position of dean of Engineering and Computer Science at Baylor University.

Lagoudas currently serves as head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering and holds the John and Bea Slattery Chair of Aerospace Engineering. He also serves as the Director for the Texas Institute for Intelligent Materials and Structures (TiiMS).

His research involves the design, characterization and modeling of multifunctional material systems at nano, micro and macro levels with averaging micromechanics methods developed to bridge the various length scales and functionalities including mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of nanocomposites. He has authored or co-authored more than 340 scientific publications (140 in archival journals).

He also served as the co-chair of NASA's Roadmap panel for Nanotechnologies. He was the inaugural recipient of one of the two Ford Motor Company Professorships, he is a TEES fellow, a TAMU Faculty Fellow and an Associate Fellow of AIAA and a Fellow of ASME. He was selected as an SES Fellow in 2009. He served as an Associate Vice President for Research for Texas A&M University from 2001-2004, and as the first chair of the Materials Science and Engineering Program at TAMU.

About the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES)

As an engineering research agency of Texas, TEES conducts research to provide practical answers to critical state and national needs. TEES partners with academic institutions, governmental agencies, industries, and communities to solve problems to help improve the quality of life, promote economic development, and enhance the educational systems of Texas.

Students annually receive up to $10,500 for tuition and fees to the school of their choice, plus a $30,000 stipend for living expenses. The NSF Graduate Fellowships are very competitive; only 1,000 are given from a pool of more than 3,000 applications.

Fellowship recipients who received their undergraduate degrees from Texas A&M and will continue their graduate degrees at Texas A&M are Carolyn Estrada, aerospace engineering; Cory Allan Olsovsky, biomedical engineering; Zachary Nolan Sunberg, aerospace engineering; and Kristina Diane Yancey, nuclear engineering.

Aggies receiving honorable mentions and who plan to pursue graduate engineering studies at Texas A&M are Christine Michelle Bergerson, biomedical engineering; Candice Marie Haase, biomedical engineering; Ryan Patrick Kelly, nuclear engineering; and William James Sames, nuclear engineering.

Additionally, eight Texas A&M Engineering graduates who will pursue graduate degrees elsewhere also received fellowships: Oscar Carrasco-Zevallos, biomedical engineering (Rice University); Michael Alan Cox, materials (Harvard University); Zachary A. Crannell, bioengineering (Rice University); Jillian Greczek, computer science/engineering (University of Southern California); Jenna Kromann, civil engineering/hydrology (University of Texas at Austin); Stacy Lee Prukop, polymer engineering (Rice University); Giuliana Eva Salazar-Noratto, biomedical engineering (University of Pennsylvania); and Jessica Kimberly Weaver, electrical engineering (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Jennifer Lindsey Holm, who earned a bachelor's degree from Rice University, also received a fellowship to study biomedical engineering at Texas A&M.

Finally, three students from other universities -- Ralph W. Crosby, computer engineering, California Polytechnic Statue University; Dariya Konstantinovna Reid, chemical engineering, University of Texas at Austin; and Ana Ysabel Rioja, biomedical engineering, University of South Florida -- received honorable mention and are pursuing graduate studies at Texas A&M.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in the United States and abroad.

NSF Fellows are expected to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals, states the NSF Web site, will be crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation's technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large.

Students apply for the graduate fellowships before or during their first year of graduate study. Students can choose to attend any university in the United States or an affiliate with a foreign institution.

The NSF is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering research and education. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to more than 2,000 universities and institutions nationwide.

James Henrickson won first place in the graduate division for his paper, "Characterization of Shape Memory Alloys Using Artificial Neural Networks." He will compete in the national championship at the 2013 AIAA Aerospace Sciences Conference in Grapevine, Texas. His co-author and research advisor is Dr. John Valasek.

Aggie Austin Probe won first place in the public outreach division is for his presentation, "Texas A&M Sigma Gamma Tau Community Outreach." Probe is the president of Sigma Gamma Tau (SGT), the aerospace engineering honor society, and his presentation highlighted SGT outreach activities.

The contest was hosted by the the AIAA Houston Section and the University of Texas at Austin's AIAA Student Branch.

AIAA Region IV comprises Texas A&M, the University of Texas at Austin, University of Houston, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Texas Christian University, University of New Mexico and University of Arkansas.

(Pictured left to right: Henrickson, Valasek and Probe)

This prestigious award honors Anderson as being one of the top seven outstanding Aerospace Engineering seniors in the United States, based upon his academic, service, and extracurricular accomplishments.  The honorarium is in the form of a check for $250 and a plaque documenting his award.  In addition, a brass nameplate will be installed on the department's Sigma Gamma Tau Award perpetual plaque.

The Sigma Gamma Tau undergraduate awards serve to select outstanding aerospace engineering students at both the regional and national levels, to recognize the accomplishments of these young students as they start their professional careers. Texas A&M is a member of the Southwest Region, which also includes the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the University of Texas at Austin.

The Texas A&M University chapter of Sigma Gamma Tau is tied with the Purdue University chapter for having the most national winners all time with five each. The national winners are designated as the top aerospace engineering senior in the United States for that year. The most recent Texas A&M national winners were Joseph E. Bishop (1989), John Michael Fife (1992) and Justin Wilkerson (2009).

Formed in 1957, Sigma Gamma Tau seeks to identify and recognize achievement and excellence in the aerospace field. The society's collegiate chapters elect annually to membership those students, alumni and professionals who, by conscientious attention to their studies or professional duties, uphold this high standard for the betterment of their profession. Texas A&M is a charter member of Sigma Gamma Tau, and 683 students have been initiated since 1957. This spring, 33 undergraduate and graduate students were initiated.

"These award recipients are faculty members at all stages of their careers," Banks said. "Regardless of rank, each award recipient shares one characteristic: Each stands out among their peers and as such, each honoree is setting the standards of excellence for our college.

"The engineering program at Texas A&M is among the strongest and most-respected programs in the nation. This status is achieved by faculty passionate about teaching and research. Pushing the boundaries of new discovery, preparing the next generation of engineering leaders — this is where exceptional faculty members thrive. We thank all our faculty for  their contributions to elevate the quality of our program and congratulate them on their achievements."

Faculty honored at the April 26 banquet were:

Overall Contributions
E.D. Brockett Professorship Award
Christi Madsen
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Halliburton Foundation Professorship
Rodney D.W. Bowersox
Aerospace Engineering

Texas A&M Engineering Faculty Fellows
Charles H. Barclay, Jr. Faculty Fellows
Sergiy Butenko
Industrial & Systems Engineering

Tracy Hammond
Computer Science & Engineering

Herbert H. Richardson Faculty Fellows
Bimal Nepal
Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution

John Valasek
Aerospace Engineering

Williams Brothers Construction Company Faculty Fellow
Giovanna Biscontin
Civil Engineering

William Keeler Faculty Fellows
Robert Lane
Petroleum Engineering

Kenith Meissner
Biomedical Engineering

Krishna Narayanan
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Arun Srinivasa
Mechanical Engineering

William O. & Montine P. Head Faculty Fellows
Amarnath Banerjee
Industrial & Systems Engineering

Elizabeth Cosgriff-Hernández
Biomedical Engineering

Michael Johnson
Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution

Alan Palazzolo
Mechanical Engineering

Service
Charles W. Crawford Service Award
Walter W. Buchanan
Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution

Duane A. McVay
Petroleum Engineering

James E. Moore, Jr.
Biomedical Engineering

Teaching Excellence
Association of Former Students College-level Distinguished Teaching Award
Joseph Morgan
Engineering Technology & Industrial Distribution

Gerald Morrison 
Mechanical Engineering

Thomas Strganac
Aerospace Engineering

Ding Zhu
Petroleum Engineering

Caterpillar Teaching Excellence Award
Carl D. Laird
Chemical Engineering

Tenneco Meritorious Teaching Award
Elena Castell-Perez
Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Jean-Francois Chamberland
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Natarajan Gautam
Industrial & Systems Engineering

BP Teaching Excellence Award
Akhil Datta-Gupta
Petroleum Engineering

Lin Shao
Nuclear Engineering

Research Excellence
TEES Fellows
Mahmoud El-Halwagi
Chemical Engineering

Ibrahim Karaman
Mechanical Engineering

Peng Li
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Duncan J. Maitland
Biomedical Engineering

Binayak Mohanty
Biological & Agricultural Engineering

TEES Select Young Faculty
Brian E. Applegate
Biomedical Engineering

Raymundo Arróyave
Mechanical Engineering

Diego A. Donzis
Aerospace Engineering

Gregory H. Huff
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Katy Kao
Chemical Engineering

Download the awards booklet here.

View pictures of the event here.

Aerodynamic data generated from this testing, coupled with data from computer simulations, will define the characteristics of the Dream Chaser^® lifting body vehicle during the approach and landing phase of flight. This information will assist engineers in preparing for the Dream Chaser^® vehicle’s first free flight test scheduled for the third quarter of this year.

“The Dream Chaser^® Program thanks the Texas A&M wind tunnel team for their support of this testing, which produced results that exceeded our expectations,” said Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president of SNC's Space Systems. "As the only lifting body vehicle currently funded by NASA under the Commercial Crew Development Program, we are thankful for the opportunity to verify our computational data in such an advanced facility. This is an important step in preparing for the vehicle's first free flight."

Dr. Dimitris Lagoudas, head of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, said, "The Department of Aerospace Engineering has been privileged to work with high caliber engineers from Sierra Nevada Corporation Space Systems and to be part of the wind tunnel testing of the scale model of the Dream Chaser^®."

The Dream Chaser^® team includes several Texas A&M graduates. Dr. Merri Sanchez, senior director of space exploration systems, and John Curry, director of systems integration, test, and operations for the Dream Chaser^® both attribute their success in advancing the field of human spaceflight to their experience as students at Texas A&M.

"Texas A&M provided the foundation for us, as students, to excel in careers in aerospace engineering.  We are proud to be working with the University on the Dream Chaser^® Program, they are providing critical data that will inform the future of manned spaceflight," said Sanchez and Curry in a joint statement.

For more information on the Dream Chaser^® Space System, visit  http://www.SNCSpace.com

About Sierra Nevada Corporation

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is one of America’s fastest growing private companies based on its significant expansion and reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions in electronics, aerospace, avionics, space, propulsion, micro-satellite, aircraft, communications systems and solar energy. The company continues to focus its growth on the commercial sector through internal advancements and outside acquisitions, including the emerging markets of renewable energy, telemedicine, nanotechnology, cyber and net-centric operations. For more information on SNC visit www.sncorp.com.

About Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems

Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems business area headquartered in Louisville, Colo., designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft, space vehicles, and spacecraft subsystems for commercial and government customers. Space Systems (SS) has more than 20 years heritage in space, successfully delivering over 400 subsystems for 300+ satellite missions. Current key programs include NASA’s Commercial Crew Development program where we are developing our Dream Chaser® 7 passenger vehicle to take astronauts to the International Space Station; the ORBCOMM Generation 2 program that includes production of 18-48 small satellites for a commercial asset tracking company; the SpaceShip2 program where we are developing a non-toxic “green” rocket engine for Virgin Galactic’s suborbital space vehicle to carry tourists to space; and the Modular Space Vehicle program for the DoD’s Operationally Responsive Space Office. For more information about SS visit www.sncspace.com.

Mortari earned the Dottore degree in Nuclear Engineering at the University "La Sapienza" of Rome. Before coming to Texas A&M in 2002, he was assistant professor in the Aerospace School of Engineering at the University of Rome and was also visiting professor at the University of Perugia.

He has received numerous awards including NASA's Group Achievement award for San Marco V satellite, the 2003 Spacecraft Technology Center Award for StarNav Project, and the prestigious 2007 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Judith A. Resnik Award "for innovative designs of orbiting spacecraft constellations, and efficient algorithms for star identification and spacecraft attitude estimation."

He is member of the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Space Flight Mechanics Technical Committee, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Associate Fellow, member of the IEEE Judith A. Resnik Award Committee, and associate editor for AAS's Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, for the International Journal of Navigation and Observations, and for IEEE's Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.

His areas of interest include orbital mechanics, constellations design, attitude determinations systems, space surveillance and reconnaissance systems, linear algebra, and attitude sensors data processing.

The interview will air on 130 stations several times this weekend, beginning tomorrow (April 21) from 4 to 7 p.m CDT.

The interview can be downloaded as a podcast and can also be listened to live free on your computer.

Kaku is a Japanese American theoretical physicist, tenured professor, and co-creator of string field theory, a branch of string theory. He is on the physics faculty at The City College of New York (CUNY).

For more information, visit Kaku's website. Listen online.

From a competitive field of more than 200 applicants, approximately 20 awards were made. The scholarship includes tuition funds for educational and related costs and an optional paid 10-week summer internship.

The NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program is managed by NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. The American Society for Engineering Education works with NASA to administer the program.